Identifying and Identifying and Dealing with Violence Dealing with Violence

In The WorkplaceIn The Workplace

““The best protection is The best protection is knowledge and awareness.”knowledge and awareness.”

Brought to you by : Brought to you by : The Housing SecurityThe Housing Security

Crime Prevention TeamCrime Prevention Team

What is Workplace What is Workplace Violence?Violence?

Violence is not just a physical assault. Violence is not just a physical assault. Includes any act in which a person is:Includes any act in which a person is:

AbusedAbused ThreatenedThreatened Intimidated Intimidated Assaulted Assaulted (Verbally or physically)(Verbally or physically)

What Can Trigger What Can Trigger Workplace Violence? Workplace Violence?

Robbery/TheftRobbery/Theft Employer/Employee DisputesEmployer/Employee Disputes RevengeRevenge Domestic DisputesDomestic Disputes

Common Types of Common Types of ViolenceViolence

Disruptive or disorderly behaviorsDisruptive or disorderly behaviors Verbal abuseVerbal abuse ThreatsThreats Physical violencePhysical violence Sexual HarassmentSexual Harassment

Warning Signs of a Warning Signs of a Potentially Violent PersonPotentially Violent Person

Does not react well to criticismDoes not react well to criticism Expresses feelings of others “out to get them”Expresses feelings of others “out to get them” Does not accept responsibility for own Does not accept responsibility for own

mistakesmistakes Has had recent encounters with law Has had recent encounters with law

enforcement/police personnelenforcement/police personnel Praises or identifies with workplace violencePraises or identifies with workplace violence Purposely intimidates, threatens, or Purposely intimidates, threatens, or

manipulates othersmanipulates others

Warning Signs of a Warning Signs of a Potentially Violent Person Potentially Violent Person

(continued)…(continued)… Frequently angry or depressedFrequently angry or depressed Other persons are afraid or Other persons are afraid or

apprehensive about this personapprehensive about this person Resistant to changeResistant to change Has a history of assaultive behaviorHas a history of assaultive behavior Has recently spoken of or acquired a Has recently spoken of or acquired a

weaponweapon

Varying Degrees of Varying Degrees of AggressionAggression

Edgy, aggressive, short tempered Edgy, aggressive, short tempered (Mild Aggression)(Mild Aggression)

Uncooperative, negative attitude Uncooperative, negative attitude and/or behavior (Advanced and/or behavior (Advanced Aggression)Aggression)

Verbal or physical release Verbal or physical release (Demonstrated Aggression)(Demonstrated Aggression)

De-escalation (calming)De-escalation (calming)

Recommended Reaction Recommended Reaction to Stages of Aggressionto Stages of Aggression

Be supportive, show empathyBe supportive, show empathy Be firm, make your limits and boundaries Be firm, make your limits and boundaries

knownknown Remove yourself from the situation, call for Remove yourself from the situation, call for

assistanceassistance If any re-contact is anticipated, have a If any re-contact is anticipated, have a

game plan in place game plan in place [such as notifying your [such as notifying your staff/co-workers to contact DPS if the staff/co-workers to contact DPS if the person is seen in the area]person is seen in the area]

Non-verbal Indicators of Non-verbal Indicators of Aggression or Escalation of Aggression or Escalation of

Violent BehaviorsViolent Behaviors

Tone of voice (escalation in volume, Tone of voice (escalation in volume, negative tone)negative tone)

Facial expressionsFacial expressions Body language Body language

(clenching/unclenching fists, (clenching/unclenching fists, pounding on a surface)pounding on a surface)

Invasion of personal spaceInvasion of personal space

What are Threats?What are Threats?

Veiled threats (Better watch your Veiled threats (Better watch your back. I know where you work…)back. I know where you work…)

Conditional threats (If you do not do Conditional threats (If you do not do this, you will seriously regret it)this, you will seriously regret it)

Direct threats (I’m going to kill you)Direct threats (I’m going to kill you)

Dealing with ThreatsDealing with Threats

Stay calmStay calm Assess the situation, trust your Assess the situation, trust your

instinctsinstincts Do not argue with the personDo not argue with the person Call for helpCall for help Do not panicDo not panic Do not beg or plead with the personDo not beg or plead with the person Do not escalate the situationDo not escalate the situation Do not minimize the threatDo not minimize the threat

Basic Safety TipsBasic Safety Tips Never disclose personal information about Never disclose personal information about

yourself or others. It may be in your yourself or others. It may be in your benefit to remove your home address and benefit to remove your home address and phone number from the University phone number from the University directorydirectory

Do not disclose when someone is on Do not disclose when someone is on vacation or travelingvacation or traveling

Never leave valuables out and unattendedNever leave valuables out and unattended Do not leave wallets, etc. in coat pockets Do not leave wallets, etc. in coat pockets

(jackets hanging on chairs, etc.)(jackets hanging on chairs, etc.) If you are leaving a purse, wallet, etc. in a If you are leaving a purse, wallet, etc. in a

desk drawer, LOCK ITdesk drawer, LOCK IT

Basic Safety Tips Basic Safety Tips (continued…)(continued…)

Always keep money in a secured Always keep money in a secured location (not in an envelope in an location (not in an envelope in an unlocked desk, not in a random drawer)unlocked desk, not in a random drawer)

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS- if something TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS- if something does not seem right to you, it probably does not seem right to you, it probably is not; get yourself out of that situationis not; get yourself out of that situation

If a co-worker or other person makes If a co-worker or other person makes you feel uncomfortable, talk to a you feel uncomfortable, talk to a supervisor or someone you trustsupervisor or someone you trust

Basic Safety Tips Basic Safety Tips (continued…)(continued…)

If you notice a potential problem, If you notice a potential problem, report it- do not let it escalatereport it- do not let it escalate

Avoid confrontations with co-Avoid confrontations with co-workersworkers

Be aware of the emotional climate at Be aware of the emotional climate at workwork

What is Suspicious?What is Suspicious?

Trust your instincts- suspicious is Trust your instincts- suspicious is sometimes a “gray area”sometimes a “gray area”

People lingering in areas for extended People lingering in areas for extended periods of timeperiods of time

Someone who seems to be watching Someone who seems to be watching for people watching themfor people watching them

Someone dressed to specifically Someone dressed to specifically conceal their features, and not conceal their features, and not dressed weather-appropriatedressed weather-appropriate

What is Suspicious? What is Suspicious? (continued…)(continued…)

Someone asking too many questions Someone asking too many questions about something irrelevant (possibly about something irrelevant (possibly creating a diversion)creating a diversion)

Someone acting irate or belligerent Someone acting irate or belligerent for seemingly no reasonfor seemingly no reason

Options for Dealing With Options for Dealing With Violence in the WorkplaceViolence in the Workplace

If you have If you have concernsconcerns about violence in the about violence in the workplace, contact your direct supervisor. If workplace, contact your direct supervisor. If your concerns are not addressed or that your concerns are not addressed or that person is not the appropriate contact person person is not the appropriate contact person for you, contact your area Human Resources for you, contact your area Human Resources representative. representative.

If you are the victim of violence in the If you are the victim of violence in the workplace or have an imminent concern for workplace or have an imminent concern for your safety, you should contact the your safety, you should contact the Department of Public SafetyDepartment of Public Safety immediately, immediately, by calling by calling 911911. .

Campus Resources:Campus Resources:

Department of Public Department of Public Safety/Housing Security:Safety/Housing Security:

Non-emergency (734) 763-1131 Non-emergency (734) 763-1131 EmergencyEmergency- - 911911

FASAP: (734) 936-8660FASAP: (734) 936-8660 Staff Human Resources: (734) 763-Staff Human Resources: (734) 763-

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